Meet Stephen Biebelhausen, the US doctor who pushed his 1-year-old daughter in a pram and accidentally broke a world record

Stephen Biebelhausen, a 30-year-old US emergency medicine physician and former college runner, was aiming for a fast mile when he entered Cleveland's Guardian Mile with his one-year-old daughter, Blake, in a stroller. He hoped to beat the event's 4-minute 44-second course record, but did not expect to challenge the world record. During the race, however, he realised he was running faster than the existing mark and began pushing harder. Biebelhausen finished the mile in 4 minutes 17.784 seconds on August 8, 2026, setting the Guinness World Records title for the fastest mile pushing a pram by a male. He improved the previous world record of 4:26.29 by about 8.5 seconds.A race that became a world-record attemptThe Guardian Mile is an annual one-mile race held across Cleveland's Hope Memorial Bridge in Ohio. Biebelhausen entered its stroller division with Blake, initially focused on having a good run with his daughter and trying to surpass the course record of 4 minutes 44 seconds. He knew the existing world record was 4 minutes 26.29 seconds, but Guinness World Records reports that he considered that mark out of reach before the race.As the race unfolded, his pace changed his expectations. He completed the first 400 metres in 65 seconds and reached the halfway point in 2 minutes 12 seconds. Having looked up the world record beforehand, he realised at halfway that he was ahead of the required pace and decided to push harder.He finished in 4 minutes 17.784 secondsBiebelhausen crossed the finish line in 4:17.784, setting the official Guinness World Records title for the fastest mile pushing a pram by a male. The official Guinness listing gives August 8, 2026, as the date and Cleveland, Ohio, as the location.The previous record was 4:26.29, achieved by Silas Frantz while pushing his son Otto in Arroyo Grande, California, on June 24, 2025. Biebelhausen therefore lowered the record by about 8.5 seconds. His time also surpassed the Guardian Mile's 4:44 course record.Blake was already his running partnerThe record-breaking race was not Biebelhausen's first time running with Blake. He told Guinness World Records that he normally takes three or four easy runs with his daughter each week. He said Blake enjoys the outings and becomes happy when the stroller is put in the car or when they arrive at one of their usual running locations.Biebelhausen also said running gives him time to get away, reset and recharge from a fast-moving life. He described running with Blake as making the mental side of the activity easier because she is often laughing and giggling. He acknowledged that pushing the stroller makes running physically harder, but said her enjoyment makes the effort worthwhile.He had little specific preparationDespite setting a world record, Biebelhausen said he had not undertaken an extensive training programme specifically for the stroller mile. He normally ran with Blake several times a week, and he completed just one workout at mile pace during the week before the Guardian Mile.He said the purpose of that workout was to make sure Blake was comfortable with going that fast and that he felt safe running at that pace while pushing her. After that, the father and daughter simply turned up for the race.Biebelhausen was already an experienced runner. Miami University's athletics records show that he competed in track and cross-country for the RedHawks and recorded a personal best of 4:15.80 for the indoor mile, 3:48.11 for 1,500 metres and 14:55.49 for 5,000 metres. He graduated from Miami with a 3.51 GPA in bioengineering and premedical studies.His daughter was there for the recordBiebelhausen's wife, Meghan, watched from the sidelines. Guinness World Records reports that when Stephen reached the finish and raised his hands, Meghan realised he had achieved the world record. She described the moment as a shock but said she was excited for both of them.The achievement was especially meaningful because Biebelhausen had entered the race primarily to enjoy the experience with his daughter. Blake, who was one year old at the time, remained in the stroller throughout the mile. What began as a father-daughter run therefore ended with an official Guinness World Records title, giving the family an unusual story to share with Blake as she grows older.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.